Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/507

Yama, eateth in my very sight the food intended for me?' Hearing these words Bhima, however, O Bharata, smiled in derision, and disregarding the Rakshasa continued eating with averted face. Beholding this, the cannibal uttered a frightful yell and with both arms upraised ran at Bhima desiring to kill him then and there. Even then disregarding the Rakshasa and casting only a single glance at him, Vrikodara—that slayer of hostile heroes—continued to eat the Rakshasa's food. Filled with wrath at this, the Rakshasa struck, from behind, with both his arms a heavy blow on the back of Vrikodara the son of Kunti. But Bhima, though struck heavily by the mighty Rakshasa with both his hands, did not even look up at the Rakshasa but continued to eat as before. Then the mighty Rakshasa inflamed with wrath tore up a tree and ran at Bhima for striking him again. Meanwhile the mighty Bhima—that bull among men—had leisurely eaten up the whole of that food and washing himself stood cheerfully for fight. Then, O Bharata, possessed of great energy, Bhima, smiling in derision, caught by his left hand the tree hurled at him by the Rakshasa in anger. Then that mighty Rakshasa, tearing up many more trees hurled them at Bhima, and the Pandava also hurled as many at the Rakshasa. Then, O king, the combat with trees, between that human being and the Rakshasa, became so terrible that the region around soon became destitute of trees. Then the Rakshasa saying that he was none else than Vaka sprang upon the Pandava and seized the mighty Bhima with his arms. That mighty hero also, clasping with his own strong arms the strong-armed Rakshasa, and exerting himself actively, began to drag him violently. Dragged by Bhima and dragging Bhima also, the cannibal was overcome with great fatigue. The earth itself began to tremble in consequence of the strength they both exerted, and large trees even that stood there broke into pieces. Then Bhima, beholding the cannibal overcome with fatigue, pressed him down on the earth with his knees and began to strike him with great force. Then placing one knee on the middle of the Rakshasa's back, Bhima seized his neck with his right hand and the cloth on his waist with his left, and bent